The list of last minute casualties for the World Cup continues to leave victims in its wake. To the injuries of Baumgartner, Balerdi, Wesley or Abde, among others, joined this Thursday that of one of the great standards of the Japanese national team: Wataru Endo.
The Liverpool midfielder I was already in trouble before this World Cup started. Endo underwent surgery in February after a left foot injury and, since then, he finished the season without playing with the team again grid. He only played 170 minutes in the Premier League.
The Dutchman gave him the captain’s armband in the friendly against Yokohama Marinos, so that he could captain Liverpool in his native country.
However, Endo has always been an institution in Japan. Moriyasu, coach of the Japanese team, decided to bet on his captain and take him on the list of 26 for the World Cup despite physical doubts. He played 45 minutes in the first warm-up friendly, but He was substituted at half-time after showing obvious signs of pain. Since then, his presence at the World Cup event was a mystery. Until this Thursday, where the player himself resolved all the doubts. Endo announced that he was missing the World Cup permanently. And not only that, but he announced his retirement from the national team after 73 caps..
“Since I was injured, I’ve done everything I could up to this point, so I don’t regret anything.“Endo acknowledged in his statement. “With this campaign, I will retire from the national team. So, from now on, I will cheer for the Japanese team as a fan,” he added.
Japan already has a replacement
After learning of Endo’s absence, the Japanese federation did not take long to announce a substitute. It will be Shuto MachinoBorussia Mönchegladbach attacker, who will take the Liverpool pivot’s place on the list.
